Labour leader Brendan Howlin has urged former supporters and activists "who felt let down" to return to party activism.

Speaking at his first party conference as leader, Mr Howlin said the party had spent the past year since "a very bruising general election" reviewing and overhauling its party structures.

Mr Howlin said Labour was renewing its links with the trade union movement. He said Siptu general president Jack O'Connor had been unanimously chosen as party chairman to cement these links.

The Labour leader said more than 40 area representatives had been chosen in various parts of the country to back up the work being done by Labour's 50 councillors. The party was also busy choosing Dáil candidates.

Mr Howlin said the party's new draft constitution gave more say to ordinary members than any other party. Up to 1,000 delegates are expected in Wexford town for the conference which continues today.